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Pediatric cancer patient bonding with family in nature showcasing the importance of emotional support during care.

Emotional Support Matters for Families Facing a Pediatric Cancer Diagnosis

Nemours Children’s Health cancer research shows parents and providers may disagree on how to prioritize support The Emotional Side of Childhood Cancer Care When a child is diagnosed with cancer, parents and care teams share the same goal: making sure the child gets the best care possible. But pediatric cancer care goes beyond treatment. Children and families facing a cancer diagnosis often need psychosocial resources like mental and emotional support. New cancer research from Nemours Children’s Health shows that while both parents and healthcare providers agree that these resources are important, they don’t always agree on which ones should come first. Inside the Research: Exploring Priorities in Family Support In 2015, experts and cancer advocates, including Nemours Children’s researchers, published the first Standards for the Psychosocial Care of Children with Cancer and their Families. These guidelines define best practices for this area of pediatric oncology care and how to best […]

Care that Inspires: Owen’s Story

When 8-year-old Owen was bitten by a dog, his lower lip was nearly torn off, turning a peaceful evening into a night of uncertainty. With his parents out for a date night, a family member rushed him to the local emergency room, but it was clear that the extent of Owen’s injuries required specialized care. Shortly after, Owen was swiftly transferred to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. His mother, Alicia, recalls their first encounter with the Nemours Children’s, “We started in the emergency department at Nemours, and everyone was so great with him,” she says. The immediate care and the compassionate approach of the care team provided the family with a sense of reassurance during a highly stressful time. “We got admitted that night with a plan of having surgery the next day,” says Alicia. It was then that they met Dr. Caterson, Division Chief of Plastic Surgery. “He was phenomenal. […]

Young pregnant woman lying on sofa at home, looking at the ultrasound scan photo of her baby.

Planning for Pregnancy: What to Know About Health and Risk Factors

The decision to become pregnant is a significant life choice. By working with healthcare experts in advance, you can increase your chances of a successful pregnancy and a positive outcome. If you’re planning to conceive, consider scheduling a preconception consultation with your healthcare provider several months to a year before attempting to get pregnant. This allows time to implement any necessary lifestyle adjustments or prenatal testing they recommend. If you have concerns or anticipate a high-risk pregnancy, talk to your doctor to see if they recommend consulting a maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialist for any extra guidance and care. What is Preconception Care? Preconception care is taking proactive steps to optimize your health before getting pregnant, which evidence suggests can significantly impact the possibility of a healthy pregnancy. In fact, as the clinical evidence continues to support this idea, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics has developed an online preconception […]

Navigating Complex Urologic Care: A Family’s Journey

Abigail and Vivian’s path to Nemours Children’s was paved by challenges, each step bringing them closer to the answers they needed. Abigail, now 15 years old, was born with a neurogenic bladder, a condition where the bladder does not function properly due to nerve damage or dysfunction. This issue became apparent when the family started potty training her. For Abigail, this meant frequent accidents, infections, and discomfort, which were distressing for her and her family. Though it seemed like a common and simple problem in a young child, her mother, Brittany, recalls, “I just felt like there was something more here. So, everyone agreed, ‘You need to go to the best children’s hospital.’” Despite initial hesitation, she knew she had to seek expert care for her daughter. “For us, driving to Nemours is about an hour and a half each way. At first, I was hesitant because of the distance, […]

Doctor applies an adhesive bandage to preteen girl's arm after the girl receives a flu shot at an outdoor free clinic.

Protect Your Family This Season With a Flu Vaccine

The 2024-25 flu season was the deadliest flu season for U.S. children in more than a decade, according to September 2025 reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One report included data on the 280 U.S. children who died, and while the authors say that it’s unclear why there were more pediatric deaths than in previous seasons, the best way to protect children from flu is to get them vaccinated. Based on their findings, of the 208 children with vaccine information available, 89% had not been fully vaccinated against flu. Overall, only about half of children in the U.S. got their flu shot last year. Here are some things to know about flu shots and how this year’s flu vaccines are more convenient — and important — for families than ever. When is flu season? The official flu season in the United States typically runs from October […]

Independence and Confidence: Braulin’s Story

Braulin’s family found out about their son’s diagnosis during Gissette’s pregnancy. Gissette noticed that her local doctor was sending her to do more sonograms and measurements than she had for her previous pregnancies, making Gissette nervous. It was during this time that her care team informed her that Braulin was diagnosed with dwarfism. After receiving the diagnosis, Gissette decided to explore new care options with experts that specialized in dwarfism. “In my country, the Dominican Republic, there wasn’t much information about how to treat or care for a child with dwarfism,” shares Gissette. “I had a lot of questions but no answers. This is when my journey of looking for answers on the internet started.” Through her research, Gissette was able to connect with other parents navigating dwarfism and Little People of America. Once Braulin was born, Gissette took several trips to the United States with Braulin to receive specialized […]

Father checking on his sick daughter at home who might have COVID, RSV, or the flu.

Comparing Flu, COVID-19, and RSV: A Guide for Parents

Does your child keep getting colds? Runny noses? A cough that just won’t go away? How can you tell if it’s COVID-19, the flu, or RSV? According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, even healthy kids get about 6–10 colds each year.  There are a number of different viruses that make the rounds, especially during fall and winter months, and here are some things to watch for when it comes to making decisions about diagnosis, home care, and potential visits to the doctor. What are flu symptoms, COVID symptoms, and RSV symptoms? There is a lot of overlap between symptoms. This means some of the symptoms of flu, COVID, and RSV can appear similar to other respiratory illnesses, up to and including the common cold. It would require a test to confirm a diagnosis for flu, COVID, or RSV. Plus, it’s also possible to have more than one of the […]

Associate Highlight: Jenny Pfieffer, PCNS-BC, APRN, ESMHL

At Nemours Children’s Health, our nursing staff is integral to our mission of providing exceptional care to our patients and families. Jenny Pfieffer, a Clinical Nurse Specialist in our Pediatric Diabetes Center, embodies the dedication, compassion, and innovation that defines our nursing team. With over 20 years of experience, Jenny has made a lasting impact on the lives of countless children and families. Inspired by her mother’s belief that “the sky is the limit,” Jenny began her nursing journey in pediatric emergency care. Her work was driven by a deep love for helping others and making a difference. After relocating to Nemours Children’s Health, Jacksonville from Delaware, she transitioned into nursing administration and eventually found her calling to return to the bedside as a Clinical Nurse Specialist at the Diabetes Center. In this role, Jenny helped create a transition program that supports adolescents moving from pediatric to adult diabetes care. […]

Meet Amaia.

Lee la historia de a Amaia en español In January 2024, Amaia’s family brought their two-year-old daughter to the ER at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Florida after noticing staring seizures. Staring seizures are a type of short focal seizure, during which a child will stare blankly, confused or lose awareness of their surroundings, often without any noticeable symptoms.  Her mother Stefanie remembers the exact day: “Amaia started bleeding through her nose and was behaving in a way that was not her normal, such as turning/looking to her left side in a very strong way and not moving – even turning purple [blue]. Then we decided to take her to the ER at Nemours.” That visit revealed a life-changing discovery: a brain tumor. The impact was immediate. “The impact of this news on our lives was extremely strong. I had to stop working to care for Amaia, take her to the […]

Navigating Kidney Stones: Vincent’s Story

At 13 years old, Vincent found himself facing a painful and unexpected health challenge. What began as a nagging low back pain quickly escalated when he noticed blood in his urine. Alarmed, his family took him to urgent care, where the initial tests confirmed the presence of blood but also revealed a more serious issue: a kidney stone. The urgent care team, recognizing the severity, referred them to the Nemours Children’s Health, Lakeland and then to the hospital in Orlando for further evaluation. “I was nervous about the wait time, but their staff worked to fit us in quickly,” says Vincent’s mom, Jessica. “From the beginning, they were responsive and attentive.” The pain Vincent was experiencing disrupted every aspect of his daily life. “He couldn’t rest, enjoy his normal activities, or even feel comfortable sitting or lying down,” Jessica explains. “It was also very stressful for me as a parent […]

Kissing bug on a leaf that carries Chagas disease

Chagas Disease: What Parents Should Know

More than 7 million people worldwide are estimated to be infected with Trypanosoma cruzi (or T. cruzi), the parasite that causes Chagas disease. In the United States, the number of cases is relatively low but appears to be growing, especially in certain regions. According to experts at UCLA Health, approximately 45,000 people in Los Angeles County are infected, among more than 300,000 in the United States, and fewer than 2% of them are aware they carry the parasite. However, these reports are not as current as the clinical community would like, given the calculated risk of exposure. This has led the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to advocate for reclassifying certain states as endemic (en-DEM-ik) areas where infected parasites live and potentially transmit the disease. What is Chagas disease? Chagas (SHAH-gus) disease is caused by the T. cruzi parasite, which is harbored by approximately a dozen species of bloodsucking triatomine bugs, commonly referred […]

Kinsley’s Story: A Journey of Hope

Our daughter Kinsley’s story began with a broken leg at a very young age. When the cast came off, she refused to walk. Although she showed some other symptoms like a relentless fever and sleeping a lot, “we never anticipated she had cancer,” her parents added.  “Kinsley was diagnosed at age 2 with a very rare form of leukemia known as near haploid B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This type of leukemia makes up less than 1% of all leukemias worldwide, and comes with a very dismal prognosis.” The months that followed were painful and overwhelming. Kinsley suffered severe side effects during and after treatment. “Watching your child suffer through this horrendous journey is gut-wrenching. It’s brutal, especially when as a parent you can’t do anything but sit on the sidelines and watch. Watch and pray,” her parents said. Despite the challenges, Kinsley showed incredible resilience. She had four bone marrow […]

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